The long-debated subject of the safety of mercury fillings has resurfaced in several areas in the United States and the US Food and Drug Administration is now conducting further investigations into amalgam fillings.

Mercury fillings have been used for hundreds of years. However, they are becoming less common, as an increasing number of people choose to have natural-looking, tooth-colored fillings made of composite materials and ceramics.

For many years, concerns over the safety of metal amalgam fillings have been raised, with many people suggesting that the fillings contribute to a range of health problems and harm the environment, once they have been taken out.

The FDA will now discuss the matter at a meeting in Maryland next week. Dental patients, university professors, dentists and attorneys are due to attend the meeting. Many people oppose the use of mercury and one patient who is planning to attend the meeting claims that amalgam fillings made her extremely ill; Holly Hruska had her fillings taken out in 2004 after experiencing health problems, including double vision, tremors, anxiety, chronic nausea and persistent mouth ulcers.

Many health officials and dentists claim that amalgam fillings are perfectly safe and say that there is very little evidence to support the fact that amalgam fillings contribute to health issues.